Window construction



. P 1942- A. o. WILLIAMS 2,295,882

WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 1, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. v AA/tifld Mala/v.9,

P 1942- A. o. WILLIAMS 2,295,882

I WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 1, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 15, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE to Clark Equipment Company,

Buchanan,

Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application November 1, 1939, Serial No. 302,280

6 Claims.

This invention is primarily concerned with a window construction for use on vehicles such as street cars, busses and railway coaches.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a single window construction which is so arranged as to be mounted entirely on the outer surface of the vehicle and to be guided or vertical movement thereon.

It has heretofore been necessary to provide window framing and sash in vehicles of this type, which is an integral part of the vehicle body construction and which requires the removal of substantially the entire window frame in order to provide access for changing the glass or adjusting the mechanism.

In the present construction I provide an arrangement whereby the window may be removed readily from the exterior of the vehicle when so desired, and which is so designed as to provide ample sealing surfaces for protection against drafts and the entrance of dust or moisture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a window construction which is of pleasing design conforming to the streamlined appearance of the vehicle, and which is 50 arranged that it opens by a downward vertical movement as compared with previous designs in which the lower edge of the window was raised above the window sill. In this connection the present invention eliminates the necessity of providing a recess or a well into which the lower portion of the window moves when it is opened within the car body, as the present construction allows this movement of the window without requiring any sill, recess or the like.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully from the following detailed description which, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, will disclose to those skilled in the art the particular construction and operation of a preferred form of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is an elevational view of a window construction embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure l; and

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Considering the drawings in detail, the car body is indicated generally at 5, and as shown, is provided with a window opening 6 defined by an upper channel shaped frame member I and a lower sill member 8. The upper member 1 is preferably formed of an extruded light-weight metal section, such as aluminum or the like, and has the inwardly disposed lip portion 9 forming a recess with the interior sheathing H) of the car to provide for the insertion of advertising cards or the like, the lower edges of which are disposed in the recess ll.

The outer leg portion of the channel member 1 is supported in position by being riveted, as indicated at IE, to the outer shrouding 13 forming the outer surface of the car body, and an angle section I4 is also secured in position by means of the rivet I2 over the outwardly projecting lip ii of the member I. The window header 1 forms with the depending flange portion It of the member I4 a downwardly open ing channel ll adapted to receive the sealing member l8, which may be formed of rubber or other suitable resilient sealing material. This sealing member I8 is held in position by means of the inwardly directed projections l9 and 20 carried by the members 1 and M which firmly support the strip l8 in fixed position in the upper end of the channel, the member [8 having a lower flared portion 22 projecting below the projections l9 and 29.

The sill member 8 has a downwardly extending projecting flange 23 which is adapted to have riveted thereto the lower stop member 24 for the window, as by means of rivets 25. The lower rivet 25 also secures the outer body closing member 26 intermediate the members 23 and 24, the member 26 forming a continuation of the body surface and being substantially in alinement with the member l3.

The flange 23 and the member 24 are provided intermediate their ends with boss portions, indicated generally at 21, adapted to receive the screws 28 which secure the molding strip 29 in position, this strip 29 forming the belt molding for the vehicle body. At its upper end the member 24 is provided with an outwardly projecting flange 30 having a substantially centrally located longitudinal rib 32 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The window glass indicated generally at 33 is contained within a frame comprising an upper header member 34 of fabricated construction having a channel shaped depending recess 35 receiving the upper edge of the window glass, the glass being cemented therein by means of suitable resilient sealing material 36. At the upper end of the header 34 there is provided a second channel shaped recess 31 adapted to receive a rubber sealing strip 38 which is locked therein by means of the projections 39, the sealing member 38 having an upwardly convex surface adapted to be received in the convex recessed flaring portion 22 of the sealing strip l8. Thus, when the window is in closed position an effective dirt and moisture proof seal is provided between the members l8 and 38.

The lower edge of the window glass 33 is sealed within a lower frame member 34 of the same construction asthe header member 34, but which is inverted in position. This member has a corresponding recess 35 in which is sealed the lower edge of the glass 33 by mean of the sealing material 36. At its lower end the member 54"is adapted to receive a sealing strip which is secured therein by means of theprojections 39in the channel 38, but which isprovided with a.1ongitudinal recess portion 42 adapted to engage over the rib 32 of the flange 39 to provide an effective seal therewith. The member 4i is also provided with an inwardly directed lateral extension 43 which, when the window is in raised position engages the undersurfaeeof a longitudianally extending channel'strip 44 secured to the sill member 8 and carrying mohair or felt sealing means--45. The Weatherstripping 45 is there- 'by pressed against the inboard surface of the lower member 34 when the window is in closed position, and is closed at its lower end by means :of the extension 4.3 of the sealing strip 4%).

The side framing for the window is provided by means of -guide members secured to the frame posts 48 defining the window frame. The forward'vertical guiding member comprises the arcuatestr ipAS which, at'its forward edge, isvbent inwardly to :engage against the body surfac [3 and 'isaspaced away from the flange portion 5E! :of the vertical post by means of the spacing strip 52 which'issecured to the flange by means of the rivets 53 and which is tapped to receive the :screws'54 for=securing the guide strip 48 in position. Mounted within the channel 55 formed betweenthe strip 52, the car body surface l3and the rear edge of the member 49 is a guide supporting member 56 -formed of thin metal stock "bent into a 'channel'shape and carrying on the inner surface thereof-Weatherstripping material 551. "This material may be cemented or otherwisesecured in the'supporting member'56 mount- --edinthe channel 55. The side edges of the windoware sealed by mean of the sealing material -68 in similar frame members 62 formed of thin' sheet metal sections and shaped to'b 'received in the channel'55 in sealing engagement with the Weatherstripping 51.

Preferably, the window construction is so arranged that the windows are provided in pairs,

"sealed awindow construction when the window is in closed position.

The window is locked 'in closed position by means of the latch mechanism 10 illustrated diagrammatically in'Figure 1 having a latch pro- "jec't'ion "l2 controlled by the latch figures 13 adap'ted' to engage in notches formed in a large bearing 14 secured to the upper end of the side post members 48 and interiorly of the window. By releasing th latches 12, the window can be moved into intermediate open positions to provide various spacing of the upper edge of the window with respect to the header member I. When in full open position the bottom sealing strip 40 of the window frame is moved downwardly to rest on the flange 30, thereby supporting the window on this flange and in sealing engagement therewith, the upper edge of the window being then disposed an appreciable distance -below the header 1, the window being supported in this position by the side guide channels 55 andBB.

With this type of construction, it i apparent that the window may be readily removed by removing the screws 54 and the screwsfifl which support the plate 63. This removes any lateral guide for the window itself, and since the window has no confining means at the lower end thereof, .it .may be moved Jdownwardly and outwardly by release of the latches for complete removal from the car body to repair or replace the sealing means .or to replace damaged window glass.

It will be noted that the window frame members 1,3 and 14, as :well as the supporting member 24, are formed .of extruded metal sections :which may, if desired, be of aluminum or the like, whereby the configuration can be readily controlled to provide the desired type of section with the desiredprojections to insure locking of "the sealing means in position, and proper defining surfaces for the window construction. Similarly, the window strip supporting members -55, as well as the window frame'members 34 and 82 .areformed of thin metallic sections which may be rolled 'or otherwise fabricated to the :desired shapes to :insure control of the sealing .means carried by the window itself, such'as the sealing means 38 and 40 and proper engagement with the window stripping 51 in the side channels. Further, it :will *be noted that the framingmembers and '62 are hollow or tubular in form, providing a very lightweight construction so that the window may be readily moved into the desired position without any great exipenditure of energy.

I am aware that various changes may be rmade in certain details of the present construction without in any way departing from the underlying principles thereof, and I therefore do :not intend to be limited except as defined by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a window construction for a vehicle body having awindow opening in the side walls there- 'of, a pair of vertically extending side rails on opposite side edges of said openings projecting outwardly of the vertical body surface and having facing channel portions, a horizontal header across the top of said opening offset outwardly of the body surface and comprising a downward- *ly opening channel having a'lower concave surface, a window .having defining frame members and adapted to slide vertically insaid side rails, the upper frame member having a convex surface adapted to engage .in said header surface, and a horizontal ledge spaced beneath the lower edge of said window opening for supporting the lower frame member of said window when in lowered position in said side rails, said ledge projecting laterally outwardly from the plane of said body surface and supporting the entire weight of said window when in lowered position.

2. A window arrangement adapted to be mounted on the exterior surface of a vehicle body about a window opening, comprising a header member defining with said surface a downwardly opening channel, a pair of parallel vertical side rail members comprising plates mounted in outwardly spaced relation to said surface to define therewith facing channels, a window adapted to slide vertically in said side rails, means in said header channel sealing the upper edge of said window therein when in closed position, and a laterally projecting ledge disposed on said surface and spaced below said header member a distance greater than the height of said window for supporting said window in open position.

3. The arrangement of claim 2 wherein the lower edge of said window is provided with a resilient compressible sealing member having a concave depending portion adapted to engage said ledge and a laterally inwardly directed flange adapted to engage and wipe along said body surface during vertical movement of the window.

4. The combination, in a vehicle body having vertically slidable windows mounted in spaced pairs on the outer surface thereof about the defining edges of the window openings, of means for forming a common side rail support for the adjacent vertical edges of each pair of windows comprising a vertical outwardly projecting spacer strip secured to the outer surface of the vehicle body between said openings, and

a plate secured over said spacer strip and disposed in a plane parallel to said body surface and spaced outwardly thereof, said plate defining with said surface oppositely facing channels separated by said spacer strip.

5. Means forming a side rail frame for a window mounted on the outer surface of a vehicle body comprising a vertically extending spacer strip secured to said outer surface, a plate member secured to said strip having a planar portion overlying one side of said spacer to define with said surface a vertically extending longitudinally facing channel, said member having a curved portion overlying the opposite side of the spacer strip with its forward edge engaging said outer body surface.

6. A window header construction for windows mounted on the exterior surface of a double walled vehicle body comprising a channel-shaped member secured within and closing the walls across the top of the window opening and having an outwardly directed horizontal flange, a cooperating member having oppositely extending offset flanges, one flange being mounted on the exterior wall of said body above the flange of the channel member and the other flange extending downwardly from the outer edge of the flange of the channel member to define therewith a downwardly opening channel, and resilient sealing means locked in the base of said lastnamed channel for sealing engagement with the upper edge of said window.

ALFRED O. WILLIAMS. 

